R 221554Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5226
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000581 
 
 
ACCRA FOR USAID WEST AFRICA 
DAKAR FOR USAID FOOD FOR PEACE AND OFDA 
DAKAR FOR FAS 
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/DP 
STATE FOR AF/W 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR ECON EFIN UV
SUBJECT: OFDA'S CONTRIBUTION IN BURKINA FASO RECOGNIZED 
 
Summary.  In its ongoing effort to enhance the government of Burkina 
Faso's capacity to address high rates of malnutrition, UNICEF 
donated vehicles, equipment and supplies valued at 525 million CFA 
($1.14 million) to the Ministry of Health (MOH)     on 16 July. 
During his speech, the UNICEF Representative spoke about the scope 
and impact of child malnutrition and formally recognized the Embassy 
and USAID for funding nutrition programs through OFDA.  When 
introducing USAID/OFDA's Acting Regional Advisor to the Minister of 
Health, UNICEF again emphasized USAID/OFDA's contribution to 
nutrition programs.  Nutrition is the central pillar of USAID/OFDA's 
country strategy for Burkina Faso.  End Summary 
 
¶1.  On the 16th of July, USAID/OFDA's Acting Regional Advisor 
attended a ceremony presided over by the Minister of Health where 
UNICEF turned over 18 vehicles and a large quantity of equipment and 
supplies to the MOH in order to help it detect malnutrition and 
treat cases of severe acute malnutrition.  The total value of the 
transfer was estimated to be 525 million CFA ($1.14 million). 
 
¶2.  During his speech, the UNICEF Representative, Herve Peries, 
emphasized the importance of addressing the serious problem of child 
malnutrition in Burkina Faso which results in an estimated 800,000 
children being chronically malnourished and 280,000 children 
suffering acute malnutrition. 
 
¶3.  Peries also noted that malnutrition has serious implications for 
overall child health and mortality rates.  Malnutrition plays a 
direct role in 35% of the deaths of children under five and it 
impacts children's ability to learn and gain the skills needed to be 
productive adults.  This loss of productivity negatively impacts 
Burkina Faso's overall economic growth and development. 
 
¶4.  According to Peries, UNICEF's budget for malnutrition went from 
500 million CFA ($1.1 million) in 2006 to approximately three 
billion CFA ($6.5 million) in 2008 and 2009.  This increased funding 
has made possible programs to target severe acute malnutrition. 
These programs are now being established in health districts 
throughout the country. 
 
¶5.  Peries formally recognized USAID's funding for nutrition 
programs through OFDA and he also acknowledged the Embassy's efforts 
through OFDA and Food for Peace to improve overall nutrition in 
Burkina Faso.  In addition, following the formal ceremony, he 
introduced USAID/OFDA's Acting Regional Advisor to the Minister of 
Health and again emphasized the support the U.S. government was 
providing for nutrition programs through USAID/OFDA. 
 
¶6.  The UNICEF Representative also noted that increased funding for 
malnutrition programs has been driven largely by the response to the 
food [price] crisis and that malnutrition is more than just a food 
issue.  He further observed that current support for malnutrition 
programs comes largely from short-term, emergency funding and that 
in order to successfully address malnutrition in the long-term, a 
more stable source of funding is required from both donors and the 
GOBF. 
 
¶7.  In concluding his remarks, the UNICEF Representative again 
emphasized that good nutrition is an essential element in a 
country's development; he pointed out that a panel of experts, 
including five Nobel Prize recipients, determined that efforts to 
reduce malnutrition were the best investments for development in 
terms of costs and benefits. 
 
¶8.  During follow-on remarks, the Minister of Health expressed the 
government's appreciation for UNICEF's donation.  He also emphasized 
the importance that the GOBF places on nutrition and the efforts it 
was making to improve nutrition levels in Burkina Faso. 
 
¶9. Comment:  As recently as 2006, key officials in the MOH argued 
that malnutrition was not a problem that needed to be addressed. 
However, as the Minister's comments indicate, the MOH has changed 
its position. 
 
¶10.  Comment continued:  Nutrition is the central pillar of 
USAID/OFDA's country strategy for Burkina Faso which has some of the 
highest rates of chronic and global acute malnutrition in Africa. 
In recognition of the impact that high food prices have on such 
vulnerable populations, USAID/OFDA's total funding for programs in 
Burkina Faso in FY2009 is $8.9 million, making it the largest single 
USAID/OFDA country program in the region.  All of USAID/OFDA's 
programs in Burkina Faso, with the exception of $250,000 which was 
provided uniquely for the purchase of Measles vaccines, have a 
nutrition component. 
 
LAEUCHLI